ODFW News: Columbia regs

[Pete]

March 10, 2004 www.dfw.state.or.us

Columbia River above I-5 Bridge opens to Spring Chinook angling Tuesday

The states of Washington and Oregon have adopted non-Indian sport and commercial SPRING CHINOOK fishing seasons in the Columbia River that provide abundant opportunities for harvesting expected large returns of hatchery-bred fish while protecting wild salmon and steelhead by significantly limiting their catch and handling.
The recreational seasons allow spring chinook angling every day below the Interstate 5 Bridge now until a guideline is reached in the spring. Above the I-5 Bridge to McNary Dam, the season opens Tuesday March 16. The recreational angling season will close when the allowable number of "impacts" to wild fish is reached. Fishery managers hope to keep the extremely popular fishery open through April and into May. More information may be found at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/public/Ne...20604news.htm.

SALEM - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife adopted a temporary rule to increase the safety of Columbia River anglers fishing from boats longer than 30 feet and to protect wild fish.
The revised rule states: "Effective March 10, 2004, through May 15, 2004, in the mainstem Columbia River upstream of the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line, it is unlawful when fishing from vessels which are less than 30 feet in length, substantiated by Coast Guard documentation or Marine Board registration, to totally remove from the water any salmon or steelhead to be released."
The ocean salmon season opens March 15 between Cape Falcon annd Humburg Mountain. Season structure for additional areas will be finalized at the Pacific Fishery Management Council hearing in April 2004. More information may be found at: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/odfw/regs/salsport2004.html

STURGEON RETENTION rules for the Columbia and lower Willamette changed recently. The rules for the mainstem Columbia River from Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, all adjacent Washington tributaries, and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel) allow: Sturgeon retention three days per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and prohibits rentention on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday through Saturday, July 31, 2004. Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during sturgeon retention closures.

[Gun Rod Bow]

As always,

Thanks Pete!

So the punchline is don't remove springers from the water that are to be released.

If I may make a recomondation, if using Kwickfish, I suggest netting, holding the net against the side of the boat, removing hooks, and dip them out of the net. I know of a few major (and a lot of minor) injuries caused by trying to pull hooks on a fish while not in the net. Too dangerous IMO.

Leaving them in the water is a good thing [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Please consider the coated nets that reduce damage to the fish and make hook removing easier.

Pete, one question: When fishing Kwickies, on the allowed days, if a legal sturgon is caught, can it be legally retained??

Thanks again!

Whew! The Coast Guard and OSP are going to be busy enforcing that rule.
Good luck out there guys

[monoman]

GRB

coated nets remove alot of slime. Nets that are soft and flex with the fish and do not have a rubber like coating remove less slime. A soft shallow non rubber net will be the best for the fish. Rubber nets were made for fish with out a lot of slime, bass and the like.
50lb Ultragreen leaders will help in not having to net all fish, you can rap it around your hand with out it cutting into you.

[Gun Rod Bow]

OK,

I heard the opposite about the coated versus non coated baskets. Mine is limp cotton Beckman and scoops good but takes about an hour and a half to dig a K-15 out of.

As far as wrapping the line around your hand, that is eactly what I was warning against. I personally know 2 different guys that have gone to the ER to get 2/0 trebbles removed from their hands, after they were dropped to their knees by hooks burried in their hand and fish at the same time. I've been lucky, just a few scars.

There has also been some pretty scary near misses with sea lions at the boat.

I net, slide the basket tight to the gunwhale and remove hooks through the net. Way safer.

Do what you like. Be careful.